Food delivered on carts? You don’t see that everyday! That’s why I wanted to check out Porcellino’s. The cart offerings are during dinner only and change frequently. What caught my eye on the cart when I went was a dish that had multiple colors on the plate. It was spaghetti squash with a tomato paste, chicken gravy and a poached egg ($12).
What’s great about the cart offerings is that you can see the food before you buy it. You eat with your mind first and see what your money is getting you — two big bonuses for me. The spaghetti squash is served at room temperature. It doesn’t fall apart when you put it on your fork and it’s very light. There’s a hint of several different spices throughout the dish alongside a tomato taste. The poached egg melts into the food, making the dish slightly creamy. There was also what appeared to be tarragon on the plate. It was salty, crispy and a nice change of texture. I don’t know how the chicken gravy was made, but I liked it. Overall, the dish had a very Italian feel to it.
Our waiter Tim recommended the nitro coffee ($4.25) to go with my dessert. He was well versed with the menu and really knew his facts when it came to how everything was made in the kitchen. Tim told me that the nitro coffee is a cold brew that steeps overnight. The creamy coffee is pushed through a keg with nitrogen. It’s pretty much cold black coffee with a thin layer of foam on top. The nitro coffee is very similar in taste to Guinness, but lighter. I actually had to remind myself that I was drinking coffee, not beer. It was smooth on the way down. I casually sipped it, enjoying the flavor every time.
I finished with the fire roasted peach tart ($7), which is thyme shortbread, honey and mascarpone. The tart shell was warm and the crust was crunchy, like a pie. I could taste the peach but it wasn’t overpowering. In fact, if I didn’t know the flavor beforehand, I would have guessed that it was fig. The sweetness kicks in at the end and it’s just the right amount. The mascarpone isn’t rich. Instead, it’s airy and tastes more like fluffy whipped cream. I rubbed the honey on the plate onto some of the pieces of the tart before I ate it, which made the dessert even better.
Porcellino’s is a great dining experience, from the wide range of food choices to the excellent wait staff.
